Having second thoughts

[laura&fam]

We had planned a trip to DL in November and now I'm having second thoughts.

We just got back from a trip to Lake Tahoe and it didn't go so well. My husband had to work day and night before the trip, the drive was horrible (and the drive to DL is longer), my DS4 had toilet issues (doen't DL have automatic toilets?), my DS 18 months slept all day and stayed up late/got up early so we were exhausted.

I don't even want to go anymore. Should we just wait a few years?

 

[LuLusApple]

I Know for us, we can fight like cats and dogs on "other" vacations. Something about Disneyland, we can let it go.

Maybe the excitement of going to DL will help with the long drive.
I also know that with little ones you have to go at their pace. Otherwise it can be miserable. If this is your only DL trip then maybe consider waiting, until the kiddos are a bit older.

Although... I can tell you a great trick for the auto flush toilets.
Bring some tape or stickers. I use a small roll of painters tape, put it over the sensor and your golden! No flushing lol
best of luck!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Two different types of trips and two different destinations. Both my DGF and I work 12 hour shifts right up to the night before we leave and usually drive 1200 miles so...we are always very tired when we get back but it is a good tired.
Get some rest and catch up. And look at the trip when you feel better.

Jack

 

[Canyon girl]

For the toilet issues, use post-it notes to entirely cover the sensor. For a real fix, I understand that the Baby Care center in each park has toddler-sized flush toilets. I haven't needed the Baby Care there, but this is what I have read. It would also give a more relaxed feel for your 4 year old. I know that even a couple of years ago, my DD would not relax enough to go potty even though I was twisted like a pretzel to cover the sensor for her (quite tight quarters in a regular stall!). I say "Go for it!" Don't wait just because you are tired. When they get older, you'll be tired because the kids don't want to stop. Trust me, I know! Do you want to wait to go until you have an empty nest??!! Just go! You'll have fun through the drooping eyes! I promise that the look on their face at the first character will be worth every sleepless moment!!!

 

[avalon451]

I agree with BlackJack-- it will look different after you've had some time to rest and recover from the trip from Hades.

At 18 months, your DS is going through so many phases, who knows where he'll be in 3 more months? I would just work on getting him back onto a regular schedule that you are good with, and trying to stick to that schedule when you get to DL ... i.e. going back to the hotel for midday naps, getting them to bed on time, even if you have to miss fireworks. This is where getting a room with a park view is ideal, because you can put the kiddoes to bed, and sit out on the balcony and watch fireworks in peace.

I also like the trick with the sticky note or masking tape on the toilet flushing sensors. My kids used to have that issue, too.

Hope it all looks more appealing soon!

 

[Brady's Mom]

The bathroom in the waiting area for the Tiki Room does not have automatic toilets. There are only 2 stalls in the women's room and it was so quiet in there. They have regular handles.

Stroller - Take a stroller! We take a double jogging stroller that has reclining seats. When we took our first trip our littlest was just over 2 and slept one entire afternoon in the stroller. We did the little rides and used rider switch. The hardest part for us was the drive to DLR and back home. It can get really hard on little people to sit in their car seat for that long. They have less wiggle room than bigger people do with seatbelts.

Definitely get a hotel close to DLR. We didn't our first several trips and have since then and will never go back to driving and parking. We love being able to walk back and forth to DLR and give the kidlets a nap if they are tired. This helps keep them on a pretty regular schedule and then they are happier people. Which in turn makes mom and dad happier people.

Good luck with your decision. And maybe by the time the end of Oct. comes around - you'll feel up to going. I definitely think a rest for you is a great idea. Don't make a decision right now, when you feel so tired and frustrated.

 

[Mugglemama]

well i'll be the oddball here and suggest that you do wait.

DLR is SO much more fun (IMO) when the kids are not toddler/preschool ages anymore. mine are currently 17, 11, 8, and nearly 5. we've been doing DLR regularly for about the last 8 years, 2 of which we had AP's and only lived a half hour away, meaning we were in the parks typically a couple of times per week.

now when we had the AP's, it was easy-peasy to take babies/toddlers/preschoolers into the parks. that's because if there were ANY issues at all, we could just hop in the car and be home in a matter of minutes, literally. plus, we didn't feel pressured to get "everything" done, because we knew we could be back in the next day or two if we wanted.

however, since we've moved out of state, our trips are usually condensed into one 5 day trip to DLR per year. those kinds of trips are SO much harder to do with tiny kids. dealing with diapers, and potty issues, and bathroom fears of little ones can be very, very draining (not to mention fears of rides or characters - especially with an 18 month old...i've never known an 18 month old to be "okay" with characters, period). and it takes away from the fun. (plus, you feel so pressured to do everything and make the trip worth all the money and vacation time you're blowing on it).

even if you just waited 2 years (until carsland opens, for instance), you might end up with a MUCH better experience overall. plus, you'll have a ton more time to plan, prepare, and SAVE $ for your trip!!

 

[sonnyjane]

I will not say that you shouldn't go, because I love DL! But what I will say is that I am leaning toward agreeing with Muggle. I'm not sure what your circumstances are or how often you plan to go to DL, but if this is a rare occurrence and you don't think you'll be going again after this for a while, I'd wait until the littlest one is a bit older and can appreciate the trip more. Growing up, my family could only afford a trip to Disney (in that case it was DW) once every several (as in, almost 8-10) years. They took me when I was four and I don't remember it, and my brother at the time was about the same as your littlest, and he definitely doesn't remember it. I went again many years later when I was 12 and my brother was 9 and had a fantastic time, and now that I'm 26 I love it even more!

 

[Amy&Dan]

We had planned a trip to DL in November and now I'm having second thoughts.

We just got back from a trip to Lake Tahoe and it didn't go so well. My husband had to work day and night before the trip, the drive was horrible (and the drive to DL is longer), my DS4 had toilet issues (doen't DL have automatic toilets?), my DS 18 months slept all day and stayed up late/got up early so we were exhausted.

I don't even want to go anymore. Should we just wait a few years?

To me the key thing you wrote is what I just highlighted! Right after we come home from a trip, I often have this feeling of "I'm never leaving again" and my kids are 12 and 14! I think its too soon to make a decsion.

I agree with others. Take the post it notes (bandaids also work well) for the toilet issue. Also when my kids were little, we liked to drive in the night. We put them in their jammies, put them in the car and off we went. It was easier for dh and I to recover from lack of sleep than the kids.

I also think that for my family the magic of a Disney trip finds its way to us as soon as we walk out the door to drive or fly!

I know a lot of people say to wait until they are older and I do see the wisdom in that. On the other hand, not much of anything you do with your kids before about age 5 is remembered, its about the time you spend with them and the memories you make that if nothing else they can see in a photo album or hear from you. I always say to live life now and not save too many things for later. I wanted to take my kids to DL when they were about the same age as yours. Everybody said wait a couple of years. I did and between my mom's health issues and dh's job issues, we didn't get to go until they were 7 and 9, around five years later. It was worth the wait, but I see the littler ones at DL and WDW and I missed out on all that. If I waited to do things when it made sense, who knows what joys in life I'd have missed out on. Again, I see the wisdom of waiting, but for me, well life is too short to wait for the "right time" to do things I want to experience with my children.

I say wait a bit and see how you feel. November is a long ways away!

And for sure get a hotel within easy walking distance to DL. Makes midday breaks much easier and everyone needs a daily break during a day at Disneyland!

 

[Tasscrapper]

I'd say give it some time too before you decide. I would probably wait until your youngest was a bit older just so it is easier to go on rides ect. I just got back and still feel totally drained. I think the heat really sapped the energy out of us and I would imagine being at Lake Tahoe it would do so as well. If it was the heat that was part of the problem in making you tired then it shouldn't be an issue at Disneyland in November. It should be lovely weather wise. Did your 18 month old get turned around sleep wise on the drive? If so I would give serious thought to driving through the night so he'll sleep the night instead of the drive during the day.

Good luck making your decision.

 

[Karebear]

I had a really hard time waiting to take my kids to Disney. I went with them for the first time when my son was 4 and my daughter turned 3 on the trip. It was a lot easier than if we had gone when they were younger. I know it is hard, but I would say wait a year or two. To give you an example, we went to St. Thomas--US Virgin Islands--when the kids were 12 months and 27 months and it was the trip from you know what. My husband swore he would never leave the house again! Then my parents took the our whole family to Maui when my kids were 2.5 and almost 4. That was such a better trip! We could actually reason with them a little bit. The success of that trip is what convinced my husband to try Disneyland later that year for my daughter's 3rd birthday. Every family is different, but I would say wait 1 more year if you can.

 

[roxydotty]

There was a short time when our kids were young like yours when we just stayed home and put vacations on hold. I understand the exhaustation thing on vacation. It just wasn't worth it for us. Believe me, there is plenty of years ahead for you to make up for lost time. Before you know they will both be potty trained, sleeping all night, etc.

 

[ashpinoza]

well i'll be the oddball here and suggest that you do wait.

DLR is SO much more fun (IMO) when the kids are not toddler/preschool ages anymore. mine are currently 17, 11, 8, and nearly 5. we've been doing DLR regularly for about the last 8 years, 2 of which we had AP's and only lived a half hour away, meaning we were in the parks typically a couple of times per week.

now when we had the AP's, it was easy-peasy to take babies/toddlers/preschoolers into the parks. that's because if there were ANY issues at all, we could just hop in the car and be home in a matter of minutes, literally. plus, we didn't feel pressured to get "everything" done, because we knew we could be back in the next day or two if we wanted.

however, since we've moved out of state, our trips are usually condensed into one 5 day trip to DLR per year. those kinds of trips are SO much harder to do with tiny kids. dealing with diapers, and potty issues, and bathroom fears of little ones can be very, very draining (not to mention fears of rides or characters - especially with an 18 month old...i've never known an 18 month old to be "okay" with characters, period). and it takes away from the fun. (plus, you feel so pressured to do everything and make the trip worth all the money and vacation time you're blowing on it).

even if you just waited 2 years (until carsland opens, for instance), you might end up with a MUCH better experience overall. plus, you'll have a ton more time to plan, prepare, and SAVE $ for your trip!!

i think maybe it is alot harder for you though than it may be for her, since you have more children than her. anyways as far as the character and 18 month old thing, are you just speaking of YOUR kids? i know many kids are bashful, but also many arent, like my son who isnt scared of ANYTHING. and if you go on youtube, there are vids of SEVERAL 18-24 month old children doing a character meeting and IN LOVE with seeing them in person. my son is going to be 18 months when we go and even if it were now, at 13 months, he knows mickey and pooh and i think he will love it. although, twins i babysit are more bashful and im sure would BALL! LOL but i think non bashful kids would be fine, and enjoy it. now, im not saying that it would be easier now, it would be so much easier if they are older, but that just means you have to make certain adjustments, and can still have just aas much fun. now for me, i wanted to wait, but its been WAYYY too long since ive been to disney, and we NEED a vacation! lol so we are just going in feb. when he is 18 months. but i think it depends how bad you wanna go. i would wait till you feel more relaxed and forget about your other trip and then decide either way it will be great when you do go! look and childrens faces are priceless when they go to DL for the 1st time, even at a very young age.

 

[Mugglemama]

i think maybe it is alot harder for you though than it may be for her, since you have more children than her. anyways as far as the character and 18 month old thing, are you just speaking of YOUR kids?

you've definitely got a point there, lol! taking 4 kids ANYWHERE has definitely felt much more challenging to me than just taking 2.

as far as the 18 months old, no actually i was speaking about any 18 month i've ever personally known well...my kids, friends' kids, my many nieces and nephews, etc. 18 months has always struck me as an age where the babies i've known personally have been in a "leery" phase. seems to wrap up around 2.5, but yeah, that has always been my personal experience. i have no doubts that there are 18 month olds out there who are the stark opposite, though. and if you have one, thank your lucky stars, LOL!!!

after nearly 18 years of constant parenting, i am SOOOOO glad that my kids are out of their baby/toddler/preschool years (well, almost, youngest will be 5 in nov.). life, IMO, is so much harder when they are smaller, and that definitely includes trying to accomplish things like vacations at DLR! and that's coming from a mom who's kids have all been very good road-trippers, and who all love every ride at DLR they can ride (not one fear-induced tantrum in line, ever).

but the potty issues, and diapers, and jars of baby food, and trying to nurse in the parks, and fit in naps, and dress lots of little kids in the hotel each morning before leaving, and dealing with diaper bags, and strollers, etc., etc., etc., yeah, i am SO done with that, lol! (whew! i'm exhausted just remembering, hahahahahaaa!)

now they can dress themselves, use a regular toilet, visit the parks without a stroller, and we don't need a diaper bag or juice bottles, etc. visits to DLR are a hundred times easier now.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I don't have a good answer for you one way or the other, but your question about "should we wait a few years?" reminded me of a conversation I had with my mother about planning Disney trips.

Before my family moved to California 20 years ago, we lived in Utah. We made the trek to Disneyland every 4 years, except for one year when we they surprised us and we went after 2 years. My mother told me that she knew many people that were planning a trip to Disneyland at the perfect time. They defined this as the time when all the kids were old enough, they had enough money so as to do whatever they wanted to etc., and so on and so forth. They were waiting until the perfect time to visit Disneyland.

Then I look at the trips we took. We never ate in the parks, instead packing those hoagie sandwiches, potato chips, and sodas in the cooler to the old picnic area in the parking lot. We never stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, and my parents gave us each $5 to spend on souvenirs. You know what though? We took a lot of trips to Disneyland. Some had bad moments, but all had great moments.

We've never yet taken an ultimate Disneyland trip, where we eat at the the most famous and expensive restaurants at the DLR (my parents tried Blue Bayou only after they had APs for the 50th), stay concierge at the Grand Californian. But we sure took a lot of trips that were a lot of fun and bring back a lot of special memories for me.

In the end, there's never a perfect time to visit Disney for that ultimate trip. But it is possible to have a lot of pretty good ones.

 

[tinkcc99]

I waited and it has been A VERY LONG HARD WAIT! lol MY kids are spread far apart. We took our first DS at 5 for his birthday. He was old enough to remember it and it was the most magical trip. Later trips he swears it was different than the first. I am sure it was just his perception. My second DS is turning 4 Sunday and I just couldn't wait any longer. We will be at there Saturday! whoohoo. It has been 5 years since our last trip. For awhile we went every year. I personally decided to wait. I think it is really personal for each individual. Each child is different. With 2 small ones I think it would be a lot of work. For me I would probably wait because of that....but again it is personal and that was me. We have not made many trips with our kids when they were smaller. Just family gatherings and short one day excursions. It is always harder for everything when you are some where else no mater what it is... sleep, eating etc. I guess I just think if it is vacation it should feel like it... even for mom!

I also hope he is old enough to remember something from the trip when he is older. I guess I waited also for impact on him We will also modify our park schedule for him. I figure a 4 hour break in the middle of the day for naps and the pool. We will be there 5 days so I am hoping it won't all be rush rush rush. Adults get tired in the park so kids will be worse.

 

[fairykin]

aahhh... first i want to give you a hug..that sounds like you all had a rough trip.

Sometimes the idea of a vacation, is not the reality of it.

Honestly, maybe you should wait til next spring? Just think, you can save up the money you have already put aside. You can plan what works for your little family. I think a challenging aspect of this board is that we see others do something and think oh great i want to do that, but perhaps we are not meant to have that particular experience..perhaps one of our own design is waiting for us to plan and discover.

It would be fun for you to plan a trip in the future, the baby would be bigger. You prepare your son slowly for the big trip. And it could be a time when Your husband is not exhausted. Who knows..you might even be able to break the trip up into two days staying at a little place along the way..then everyone gets there happy and rested.

Remember... getting there... is important..because life is not a destination..it's a journey. *big hugs* ..may your family have many safe and happy journeys in the future.

SleeplessKnight, that was a lovely post you made..and so true.

 

[ashpinoza]

you've definitely got a point there, lol! taking 4 kids ANYWHERE has definitely felt much more challenging to me than just taking 2.

as far as the 18 months old, no actually i was speaking about any 18 month i've ever personally known well...my kids, friends' kids, my many nieces and nephews, etc. 18 months has always struck me as an age where the babies i've known personally have been in a "leery" phase. seems to wrap up around 2.5, but yeah, that has always been my personal experience. i have no doubts that there are 18 month olds out there who are the stark opposite, though. and if you have one, thank your lucky stars, LOL!!!

after nearly 18 years of constant parenting, i am SOOOOO glad that my kids are out of their baby/toddler/preschool years (well, almost, youngest will be 5 in nov.). life, IMO, is so much harder when they are smaller, and that definitely includes trying to accomplish things like vacations at DLR! and that's coming from a mom who's kids have all been very good road-trippers, and who all love every ride at DLR they can ride (not one fear-induced tantrum in line, ever).

but the potty issues, and diapers, and jars of baby food, and trying to nurse in the parks, and fit in naps, and dress lots of little kids in the hotel each morning before leaving, and dealing with diaper bags, and strollers, etc., etc., etc., yeah, i am SO done with that, lol! (whew! i'm exhausted just remembering, hahahahahaaa!)

now they can dress themselves, use a regular toilet, visit the parks without a stroller, and we don't need a diaper bag or juice bottles, etc. visits to DLR are a hundred times easier now.

well i can TOTALY agree about it being hard if you have that many! the one is fine with me, and maybe even two is fine, but i couldnt imagine 3 or 4 on ANY trip! lol. but one, to me atleast is no biggie, it is more of a challenge, of course but very worth it for me. i watch twins 3-5 days a week as well as my lil guy and i couldnt imagine them at disney! they are a few months older than my son, but have HORRIBLE stranger anxiety! VERY scared of anyone else and will BAWL! they would be very scared of characters lol. azayah (my son) on the other hand will go up to anyone, or reach out for anyone to hold him and doesnt mind strangers or "funny" looking things. i am lucky though, my nephews had it and it was awful! i do like to watch the babies on youtube though, there are alot of young ones who really enjoy it. just depends on the kid i guess! i dont want any more than 3 kids, and im sure even 3 will be a challenge to take, though they wiill probably be pretty spaced in age. well what ever you decide OP, enjoy!

 

[goldies 5]

Hi! We have been going to DL every year with our kids, sometimes twice or more. I have taken them as young as 3 weeks. Some trips have been better than others. The amount of children I have had or their ages have never made a difference for me as far as when to go. I don't expect my new baby girl to remember it this year, and that's okay because I will.
I live near Tahoe, and I will tell you it is very busy in the summer. You have a right to be stressed out. Good Luck whatever you decide.

 

[toby78]

We had planned a trip to DL in November and now I'm having second thoughts.

We just got back from a trip to Lake Tahoe and it didn't go so well. My husband had to work day and night before the trip, the drive was horrible (and the drive to DL is longer), my DS4 had toilet issues (doen't DL have automatic toilets?), my DS 18 months slept all day and stayed up late/got up early so we were exhausted.

I don't even want to go anymore. Should we just wait a few years?

Instead of spending money buying post-it notes and tape for the toilets,, i just wrap toilet paper around the sensor, then pull it off and dispose of it in the bowl when finished,,it works everytime!!!